Enable HDMI Audio & Toggle Sound Output from Mac OS X Quickly

If you’ve ever connected a Mac to something else like a TV through HDMI, you’ve probably noticed that, unlike the video source, sound output does not automatically change to the newly connected hardware. This is intentional, but many users misinterpret that as a problem with their HDMI adapter or cable, or even their Macs output capabilities, when in fact it’s almost always just a matter of adjusting the OS X audio output settings.
The standard approach is to go through System Preferences to Sound settings and change output, but there’s actually a much faster way to adjust where sound output is directed, and it can be done from anywhere, without going into preferences at all.

Toggle Audio Output Quickly on the Mac

This works in virtually every version of OS X, revealing all audio sources:

Hold down the Option key and click the Sound icon

Find the desired audio output destination under “Output Device” and select it from the pull-down menu

The change is immediate, and the set audio output destination will have a checkbox next to it’s name. Play a sound effect or any form of audio to confirm it is working. Though we’re focusing on HDMI here, this will apply to all other means of exporting audio as well, including apps like WavTap that capture all sound.

Of course it’s still possible to use the other method of going through System Preferences > Output to control this, but since it can all be done from anywhere without launching into settings there is little reason to go that route.

Switching back to the default audio source (typically the internal speakers or sound port) can be done by again Option+Clicking the sound menu icon and then choosing “Internal Speakers” from the pulldown.

Going the other way, this menu trick will also let you change input sources as well, making it easy to toggle input from an external microphone, another audio source, or back to the default internal mic as well.

Why is the Sound Menu Icon Grey?

You will notice that after an HDMI sound output source (and many other output options) has been selected, the Sound menu icon turns grey:

This does not mean that exporting sound is not working, it simply means that sound volume must be controlled through the hardware the Mac is now outputting to through HDMI, which is typically a TV or presentation shooter, as the internal volume adjustment sliders and keyboard buttons will no longer work.

HDMI Audio Output Still Not Working? Check the Mac for HDMI Sound Support

Almost all new Macs support audio over HDMI, and practically anything newer than a 2010 model year will have native support. Nonetheless, if none of this is working, you don’t have the HDMI output source visible in the menu options or the Sound Output preferences, and you’re absolutely positive there’s nothing wrong with the HDMI cables and adapters, then you may want to double-check that the Mac supports HDMI audio output.

Hold down the Option key and click the  Apple menu, then choose “System Information”

Select “Audio” from the Hardware menu

Click the triangles to open each audio channel option, and look for “HDMI Output”, “HDMI / DisplayPort Output”, or something similar

If you see nothing in the hardware audio menus about HDMI output, then the Mac doesn’t support exporting audio over HDMI. If the Mac is brand new and thus supposed to support HDMI sound, then there could be a hardware issue either with the adapter itself (this is a very common problem with the super cheap adapters bought online, get a reliable brand like Monoprice and pay a few bucks more), or, in less usual cases it could be a problem with the Mac itself, and you may want to contact AppleCare to make a determination.

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12 Comments

Hi, thanks for your explanation, it avoided too much techie talk so it was easy to follow.

I’m using an AOC I2367FH monitor my MacBook Pro.
I’ve managed to get volume through my monitor, but as you’ve mentioned the volume control via the keyboard has been lost. Is there a way to get this control back whilst using an HDMI lead, as my monitor has no volume control, so its either LOUD or mute.

Paul, this article is like explaining to someone about to die of thirst how to open a bottle of water. While it does a good job of explaining how to switch audio outputs, it doesn’t answer the question “How do I turn my volume up without using the remote for my display?”

You can send your Mac audio signal to the TV via HDMI as described here. You can not change the audio volume of your TV from your Mac, your Mac is not a remote control. You will need to use your remote to change the volume on your HDTV, the Mac has no IR transmitter. Same reason it’s not making any coffee.

While I don’t want my mac to make coffee, I do want it to control audio volume. Just like my external speakers have a separate volume control, so does my HDMI connection. The logic presented for HDMI should be applied as such: ANY audio capable device when connected to the mac should disable all audio controls.

Your sarcasm regarding coffee machine doesn’t work except to prove you don’t understand the frustration that Apple is causing. Apple’s design choice to disable HDMI control from the computer is just plain lame. For example at my work we have a wall mounted HDMI cable for our conference rooms. To control the audio from a Mac the presenter would need to walk to the wall and control the volume from there. Or (if available) ‘use a remote’. Presenter with a PC just uses the volume control on the laptop. Hmmmm yes this is a good design choice – (read lots and lots of sarcasm).

Thank you so much for the information you posted. I was going crazy trying to figure out why I couldn’t hear sound from my home theater but had video. It turned out to be the adaptor for the Mac to HDMI was bad after replacing it my sound came back. Your the best. God bless.

While I now know how to change the audio settings to record say, a Skype call on my mac, how do I go about setting it up elsewhere? for example, I want to set audacity and soundflower to record game audio on Steam, but I can’t figure out how to set my mac to do this. I’ve found tutorials on how to record both game audio and Skype audio, but how do I do both? really desperate for answers, so sorry if im asking in the wrong place.

I found the solution is very simple and that is you just need to rename the HDMI connection name to PC from your Monitor Setup. You can do it from your Samsung remote controller as following:

Press the “Source” button.
Highlight the HDMI input.
Press “Tools” -> Edit Name -> And then simply using the scrolling (up & down keys on ur remote), select “PC” or “DVI PC” for your HDMI. And voila you have crystal clear text just as on DVI.
But remember that if you select DVI PC, you will not get sound through HDMI cable. Select “PC” and you will have both sound & video, and clear text.

System Preferences > Output
doesn’t show anything other than internal speakers.
I know I have to switch the output audio to samsung while screen mirroring to get the sound thru the TV but nothing is showing

I just bought an inexpensive HDMI adaptor (Amazon brand) and I do not see any option for audio out of the HDMI connection. I doubt My 2011 Macbook Pro is the issue….. If I spend more on a better adaptor will I have the same problem?